Back to Work

Now that I am back at work, it's back to pumping breast milk for my Cutie Pie. Each day while I am at work I have to make Cutie Pie's lunch for the next day. It is not always easy.

Breastfeeding on the job is a tricky affair. First you need privacy. Luckily I have an office with no windows. Next you need an electrical outlet to plug in the pump. I have the hardest working outlet ever. It powers a computer, a lamp, the filter for my fish tank, my radio, my digital photo frame with pictures of Cutie Pie constantly playing on a loop all day and now my electric pump. Then you need something to cover up the woosh, woosh noise of the pump. Thank you, radio. A lock on the door is a must. Check! Finally, you need time to actually pump. This one can be a bit complicated.

Sometimes I think I have discreetly slipped into my office when I hear, "Bang, bang, bang! Are you in there? I need to talk to you!" I don't know about you but I just don't feel comfortable having a conversation through the door while I am pumping a bottle. I know you probably think that is strange but I don't like it when people talk to me in public bathrooms either. Boundaries, people! Anyway, my dilemma here is that my coworkers do not know what I am doing but they know I am in my office so they think that I am ignoring them. This has actually caused some conflicts for me in the office. Pumping takes up time that I really should be working. I have gotten quite good at holding my pump while typing and writing. The only thing I absolutely refuse to do is answer the phone.

I have to schedule pumping into my already very busy day and sometimes my schedule doesn't go as planned. Today was full of emergency appointments and surprises. I had to rush through appointments to get people out of my office to avoid having an accident. When you have to pee really bad, you can still hold it. But when it's time to make a bottle, it's time to make a bottle!

Breastfeeding also pays a physical toll on me. My hair is falling out in clumps. It's amazing that I haven't gone bald! I often feel exhausted because it takes so much of my energy. As if it weren't tiring enough to be the mother of an almost six month old baby who remembers that he is teething several times a night!

No matter how hard it gets, it is totally worth it to me to pump for my Cutie Pie. Even though I can't be with him all day, at least I am still feeding him and that helps assuage my crushing guilt at being a working mom. I realize that I am very lucky to have an understanding employer and my own office for privacy. We have noticed that Cutie Pie doesn't get sick as often as the other babies in his class. That fact alone makes it worth the sacrifice. As you know, I don't do well with sick babies!

Also on the bright side, I get to eat like a man twice my size and still lose weight! Best diet ever!

http://theadventuresofcutiepie.blogspot.com/

King Kong

Feeding my Cutie Pie has become quite an adventure. The airplane makes it's approach toward the mouth, complete with putputputput noises. The mouth opens and just when you think all is safe, King Kong comes out of nowhere and swats the airplane down sending peas in all directions!

I've noticed that King Kong only comes out to play when Mommy is doing the feeding. I've watched Daddy and Grandma and Cutie Pie's Teachers carefully. I've studied their technique and style. I've tried it all and to no avail. Feeding time is just dangerous when Mommy is at the other end of the spoon.

I invented my own technique of giving Cutie Pie his own spoon to play with. My rationale is that if he already has a spoon then surely he won't try to grab the one with the food on it. Right? Wrong, Mommy! Cutie Pie and I have tried this at least a dozen times and it hasn't worked yet. When will Mommy learn?

I guess Cutie Pie will just have to work harder to teach me to feed him neatly. Sometimes I'm not such a fast learner. We were just getting the hang of breastfeeding when the doctor sprung this solid food business on us! What do you mean we can start giving him cereal and baby food? He's still a baby!

We haven't stopped breastfeeding completely yet. I read that six month old babies begin to lose the immunities their bodies stored while in the womb. I think it is fabulous that my milk helps to protect him from germs.

The early days were very difficult. King Kong first made his appearance in the hospital. Cutie Pie would thrash and fight when it was time to eat. Each feeding session was like a wrestling match! Then somehow it got easier. Now feeding Cutie Pie is so relaxing that I sometimes fall asleep. I love breastfeeding. I love getting to stare into my Cutie Pie's eyes while he eats. I love cuddling and bonding with him.

Everyone has an opinion about breastfeeding. When I was pregnant, everyone was sure to share their breastfeeding opinion with me. I thought that most people would push me to breastfeed, after all, "breast is best." But I was surprised to learn that several of my friends thought the whole thing was disgusting. One of them actually told me it reminded her of watching monkeys at the zoo and she would never let her child suckle like an animal! My little monkey and I are doing just fine. It's King Kong I'm worried about!